English 1302 Library Sessions: Plagiarism Session

Q1

Christie, Jim, and Sam are working on a group project for a history class. After they turn inthe project, the professor calls them to her office and tells them they have flunked theproject because part of it was plagiarized from the web. When Christie and Jim look at the paper, they realize it is Sam's work that was plagiarized,not theirs.Should the whole group fail the project?

Q1

Yes

No

Yes: 13 votes (65%)

No: 7 votes (35%)

Total Votes: 20

Q2

Emma and Christina are writing about the same topic for their final English paper. Theyhave worked together all semester on group projects and decide to share the research theyhave gathered about their topic. Emma and Christina’s English professor notices that theyhave written about the exact same topic using the exact same sources.Have Emma and Christina done anything wrong?

Q2

Yes

No

Yes: 3 votes (15.79%)

No: 16 votes (84.21%)

Total Votes: 19

Q3

Jane just spent all her extra money to buy an iPhone. She wants to add some music, butcan’t afford to buy very many songs. Jane’s best friend Theresa has very similar taste inmusic and already has many songs on her iPod. Jane borrows Theresa’s iPod and uses afree trial of a “ripping” program to copy the songs from Theresa’s iPod to her iTunes.Has Jane done anything wrong?

Q3

Yes

No

Yes: 19 votes (95%)

No: 1 votes (5%)

Total Votes: 20

Q4

David heard that "Modern Family" is a great TV show, but he missed the first 12 episodes.He decides to go to his favorite file sharing site on the Web and download those episodesthat are no longer available on ABC’s web site.He figures ABC won't mind because he can catch up and then continue watching the showwhich is good for them commercially.Has David done anything wrong?

Q4

Yes

No

Yes: 14 votes (77.78%)

No: 4 votes (22.22%)

Total Votes: 18

Q5

President Smith has nominated Susan to be his ambassador to Chile. However, thenomination has become stalled because of misconduct allegations made against Susan byTony, a former co-worker.In the course of investigating these allegations, a tipster reveals that Tony was disciplined25 years ago for committing plagiarism in college. Tony's credibility is instantly thrown indoubt and the investigation into Susan's actions is soon dropped.Should the plagiarism charge of 25 ago years have influenced the investigation?

Q5

Yes

No

Yes: 6 votes (31.58%)

No: 13 votes (68.42%)

Total Votes: 19

Q6

George receives an assignment for a class and realizes that he can write his paper on thesame topic he wrote it on for another class last semester. Because of the requirements ofthe assignment, the focus of the paper will be a little different, but he thinks there areparagraphs he will be able to just copy and paste from the paper he wrote last semester.Is it okay for George to do this?

Q6

Yes

No

Yes: 5 votes (26.32%)

No: 14 votes (73.68%)

Total Votes: 19

Q7

Helen is in charge of creating promotional posters for her sorority. To liven up a posteradvertising the sorority’s car wash fundraiser, Helen adds some photos she found usingGoogle Image search.Has Helen done anything wrong?

Q7

Yes

No

Yes: 5 votes (25%)

No: 15 votes (75%)

Total Votes: 20

Q8

Arthur found the perfect quote to use in a paper he is writing for his political science class.He just quoted something in the previous paragraph so he decides to paraphrase instead.The quote states, “After Gingrich publicly threatened that the U.S. might have to default onits debt for the first time in its history if he didn't get exactly his way (his precise cuts), helost the public. And the Comeback Kid won the next election big time.”Arthur writes:According to a web-exclusive Newsweek article by Michael Hirsh, once Gingrich threatenedthat the U.S. was not going to pay its debt for the first time ever if the Congress didn’t dowhat he wanted, he lost the American public. Because of this, the Comeback Kid won thenext election by a lot.Did Arthur plagiarize?

Q8

Yes

No

Yes: 6 votes (31.58%)

No: 13 votes (68.42%)

Total Votes: 19

Q9

While peer-reviewing your classmate’s English paper you realize that she plagiarized a website you had emailed her about her topic. You mention it to her when discussing yourcritique of her paper, but she says that she doesn’t have time to rewrite it so she is goingto turn it in like it is.Would you turn her in to your teacher?

Q9

Yes

No

Yes: 4 votes (23.53%)

No: 13 votes (76.47%)

Total Votes: 17

Q10

If someone is caught plagiarizing in school, what should their punishment be?